Yakutia, Siberia – A small asteroid lit up the skies over northern Siberia on Tuesday, providing a stunning visual display as it entered Earth’s atmosphere.
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The asteroid, temporarily named C0WEPC5, was the first of two expected asteroid fly-bys this week. Measuring just 27 inches in diameter, it created a harmless fireball, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
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A Rare “Imminent Impact” Event
The ESA issued an alert at 4:27 a.m. ET, shortly before the asteroid’s arrival, confirming that the celestial object would pose no threat.
C0WEPC5 became Earth’s fourth detected asteroid strike of the year and only the 11th ever recorded. Known as an “imminent impactor,” the asteroid was identified ahead of time by the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
At 11:15 a.m. ET, the space rock entered Earth’s atmosphere over Yakutia in northeastern Siberia, creating a massive fireball witnessed by locals. Social media footage captured the bright streak darting through the sky before dissipating.
It remains unclear whether any debris from the asteroid landed on Earth.
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Asteroid Fly-Bys Increasingly Common
Astronomers have become increasingly adept at detecting near-Earth objects, thanks to technological advancements. NASA reports that since October 2023, 132 asteroids have passed closer to Earth than the moon’s distance. In total, over 36,000 asteroid fly-bys have been documented.
Another Asteroid to Pass Earth This Week
Adding to the celestial show, a much larger asteroid, 2020 XR, is expected to pass Earth at 12:27 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Measuring approximately 1,200 feet in diameter—similar to the height of New York City’s Empire State Building—2020 XR will fly by at a safe distance of 1.37 million miles, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Although it poses no immediate threat, NASA designates objects within 4.6 million miles of Earth as “potentially hazardous.”
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Ongoing Monitoring of Near-Earth Objects
While Tuesday’s asteroid left no harm in its wake, the event highlights the importance of continued observation and monitoring of space objects. With advancements in detection technology, astronomers are better equipped than ever to track and understand these fascinating cosmic visitors.
